Brad Rogers, of Mountain Environmental Services, steps into the French Broad River to replace absorbent pads across the street from Mountain Energy February 7, 2018, where it is estimated thousands of gallons of petroleum fuel spilled into the river.(Photo: Angela Wilhelm/awilhelm@citizen-times.com)Buy Photo

ASHEVILLE — Cleanup and monitoring of the first known kerosene spill into the French Broad River continued Thursday by state regulatory agencies and environmental remediation services.

Caroline LaFond, acting regional supervisor for the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Underground Storage Tanks Section, said the agency issued a notice of violation Thursday to Mountain Energy, for spilling oil into the waterway.

A leak that came from a hole at the base of a 20,000-gallon, split compartment above ground storage tank used to store heating oil/kerosene at 288 Lyman St. in the River Arts District was found Sunday afternoon after people in the area noticed a strong smell of gasoline.

LaFond said the exact amount of fuel that discharged into the river is still being determined, but she said Mountain Energy now estimates they lost 1,000-1,200 gallons of kerosene from the leaking tank, thought to have been installed in the 1930s.

The tank, since drained, sits 100 feet from the French Broad River in an area highly used for outdoor recreation.

“The tankers corroded over time. There was a small drip that has gone undetected,” LaFond said.

She said this is the first known spill of kerosene into the French Broad River.

On Monday, about 30 tons of impacted soil was excavated from the containment area; the pipe leading to the storm drain was cut/capped to prevent further migration of residual fuel; and the tank system was tagged out and locked out to prevent any fuel drops, LaFond said.

The notice of violation has a specific timeline for the company to complete assessment work or risk fines, she said.

“They have 30 days from the initial date of NOV (Feb. 8) to complete the initial phase of assessment – installation of groundwater monitoring wells and soil boring to determine the extent of the plumes,” LaFond said.

Buy Photo

The Asheville Fire Department estimates that 4,000 gallons of petroleum fuel leaked into the French Broad River from a tank at Mountain Energy.(Photo: Angela Wilhelm/awilhelm@citizen-times.com)

“Based on the results, there could be another phase of addition wells and soil borings and if the extent of the plume has been delineated, they will start remediation.”

The Buncombe County Health and Human Services, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health and state DEQ have an advisory in place since Sunday warning people and pets to stay out of the river until it is deemed safe.

The spill occurred in the River Arts District near the intersection of Lyman and Riverside Drive, near the former site of 12 Bones restaurant. The advisory is in effect for the river from the spill site some 20 miles downstream to the town of Marshall.

According to the health department, drinking small amounts of kerosene may cause vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, stomach swelling and cramps, drowsiness, restlessness, painful breathing, irritability, and unconsciousness. Drinking large amounts may cause convulsions, coma, or death.